• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Six-run fourth helps Twins knock off ChiSox

Jul 9, 2011 - 5:38 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Luke Hughes capped a six-run uprising in the fourth inning with a three-run homer, boosting Minnesota to an 8-5 comeback win over Chicago, giving the Twins their ninth straight victory over the White Sox.

Nick Blackburn (7-6) allowed five first-inning runs and 10 total hits, but lasted five innings to get the victory and snap a three-start winless streak. Matt Capps retired the side in order in the ninth for his 14th save.

"It's good to see those guys are banging the ball around and scoring runs and all that stuff," Blackburn said. "I have to look at the positives and build off of what happened those last four innings."

Rene Tosoni singled in two runs during the fourth inning, as the Twins won for the fifth time in six games.

Gavin Floyd (6-9) was charged with nine hits and seven runs over 3 2/3 innings and fell to 0-4 over his last six starts. He's lost his last seven decisions when facing the Twins.

Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer for the White Sox, losers of four straight.

Michael Cuddyer singled in Joe Mauer in the top of the first, but the White Sox sent nine men to the plate in the bottom half. Paul Konerko doubled in a run and touched home on Dunn's blast to right field. Carlos Quentin and Alex Rios had back-to-back doubles, and Gordon Beckham singled in a run later in the frame.

Danny Valencia's sacrifice fly cut into the margin in the third, and a slow- developing possible double-play grounder hurt the White Sox in the fourth.

Matt Tolbert led off with a single and Ben Revere followed with what could have been a double-play, but was safe at first on the fielder's choice. Alexi Casilla followed with a single and the runners advanced on a passed ball before Mauer was hit by a pitch. Cuddyer then singled up the middle.

Two batters later, Tosoni lined a hit just past the outstretched glove of Konerko at first and into right field to tie the game.

Will Ohman was summoned from the bullpen, but Hughes belted a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right field.

Chicago left two men on base in the fifth, but didn't threaten the rest of the game.

"For the most part we haven't played up to our capability," White Sox outfielder Juan Pierre said. "We had a couple of stretches where we played good ball, but we haven't got hot yet. Hopefully, the second half of the season we can catch fire a little bit."

Game Notes

Floyd is 4-10 lifetime against the Twins...Blackburn has beaten Chicago three times already this season and is 9-5 all-time against the White Sox...The Twins are also unbeaten in their last eight games at U.S. Cellular Field and sport a 14-2 mark in the previous 16 contests as the visitor in this series.